Cabinet desk



Nov. 20, 1928.

- L. KNASTER CABINET DESK Filed March 1927 Z Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 20,1928.

KNASTER CABINET DESK 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed Marph 1927 (141101 newPatented Nov. 20, 1928.

. UNITED STATES 1 6 PATENT O FICE? LEON KNASTER, or UNION CITY, NEWJERSEY.

cABInn'r DESK.

Application filed March 1, 1927. Serial No; 171,816.

This invention relates to a cabinet desk,

and particularly to a construction includ ing a secret container adaptedto be concealed by a table member at the front of the desk and to berendered conveniently accessible by a movement of such member. s In thischaracter of desk it has 'beenfo'und particularly advantageous to locatethe secret container or compartment in such posi-' tion that it may berendered accessible to the user of the desk when seated in front thereofand, will not require the movement of the desk to obtain access to sucha container.

It is further desirable that the container be associated with the tablesection of a desk and sufficient space provided for the withdrawal ofthe container from its compartment to permit access thereto withoutremovingthe container from the desk and this result is most effectivelyaccomplished by the use of movable table sections. Inthe provision ofsuch sections itis important to avoid friction and to shift the sectionsso that they may be supported "by a withdrawn drawer which also controlsa cover member for the cabinet portion of the desk which is normallyaccessible for use when the cover is opened.

7 To most efiiciently accomplish this result the table sectionconcealing the secret container has been pivoted at the front portionment and normally disposed toconceal the same in the public use of thedesk.

A further object of theinvention is to present a new construction of theconcealing table section in which the section is pivoted at the frontportionofvthe desk and normally supported to conceal a secret containerat the rear thereof and this'section is further'provided with a foldingleaf pivoted at the forward edge thereof and adapted in desk while inits closed position it cooperates with a cover member actuated by thedrawer of the desk.

A further object of the invention is ,to

provide an improved construction of desk havlng a platform with acablnet section above the same provided with a secret container at theuppersurface of said platform and a drawer disposed beneath saidplatform, together with a table section pivoted at the front of the deskto conceal said container and adapted to cooperate with a cover for thecabinet section operatively connected to the drawer.

Other and further'objects andadvantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth andthe novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

' Figurel is a perspective of the invention with the table section openfor access to the secret container; v Figure 2 is a vertical section onthe line 2l2'of Figure 1;

Figure 3' is a transverse vertical section with the partsindicated byfull lines in closed position; and

Figure 4 is a detail section sections. I

Like reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout theseveral figures of the drawing.

0f the able 7 This invention is adapted for application.

to any desiredconstruction or configuration of desk, and is herein shownas-applied to a cabinet desk particularly-adapted forihome use and in'which a secret compartment is provided for the reception of privatepapers or other documents which it is desired to conceal from generalaccessibility but which can be conveniently reached byet'he user of thedesk by simply swinging outward a section thereof. v

In the appl'ication of the invention shown, the desk is provided with'aplatform 10 having a'rear wall 11 and side walls 12, these 1beingconnected by. the top 13. Extending between the side walls 12 is'apublic cabinet section 14 which may be provided with any desiredarrangement'of shelves or drawers as indicatedin the drawings. Beneaththis cabinet and resting upon the platform 10 a metallic compartment 15is provided and is preferably of a fireproof nature so as to protect.against destruction of thecontents open position to extend the surfaceof theof the removable secret container 16which awe i is slidinglymounted within tbe com autment L51 llhis container may he pr ided withany preferred locking means "such as a combination look, as indicated at1,7, and

in its outward movement is adapted to travel" upon tracks or ways 18resting upon the platform 10.

The cabinet section of thedesk iis provided with an arcuate cover member19 which is slidingly mounted in the usual manner and connected at itsrear with an operatingarm or lever 20 which is pivoted at its lower end21 to the rear of a drawer 22 disposed beneath the platform of the desk.This drawer is disposed to slide suitable ways 28 secured to the sidewalls 12 of the desk and the-front panel 24 of the drawer is extendedupward at 25 above the top of the drawer walls andthereengages acrossstrip or stop 26 secured to the under face of the platdorm 10 andforming an abutment to limit the inward movement of the-drawer.

This drawer is preferably provided with locking means as indicatedat 27so that when the draweris in closed osit'ion the cover and other membersof t e desk are completely locked.

For the purpose of concealing the secretcontainer' 16 a table section 28is pivotally mounted at its front edge 29 uponthe side walls of theforward portion of the desk and in its closed position is supported:upon suitable rests or strips 30 sons to lie in alignment" with thelower portion of the public cabinet section 14 and com lete'ly ooncealthe secret compartment 16 eneath the same. For the purpose of extendingthe desk section a folding leaf 31 is pivota'lly secured thereto by thehinge connection 32 at the front of the table section and this leaf whenfolded upon the table section fits closely between the side walls3-3soas to prevent any accessibility or raising of these sections whenclosed. Under somecondi tions it may be found desirable tofrictiomallyretainthe table section 28 in its closed position and for thatpurpose a spring re tainer 34 may be mounted thereon to engage the sidewalls 33 of the front of the desk. Likewise, in order topermit thelifting of the table section to secure accessibility to the secretcompartment a hand hold 35 may be mounted thereon, preferably in arecessed portion 36 which permits the close folding of the leaf 31 uponthe table section. When either the table section or its foldingleaf isextended beyond the front of the desk it is adapted to be supported bythe front panel 24 of the drawer, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure3, andto prevent mar-ring or injury to thefinished surface of thesesections a felt bearing 37 is provided at the up or edge of the drawerfront.

nut-he operation of thedesk the cover for themabinet section is openedbyithe withdrawalqf the drawer arrd the w le leaf thus released andfolded outward into contact with .the upper edge of the drawer. The.desk is .then condition for normal use with the secret compartmentconcealedbut i f it he desired to obtain access to this compartment thetable section is bodily swung outward and lies upon the previouslyopened 7 leaf which provides an'open space permitting the completewithdrawal' of the containcr'so that access can be obtained to thecontents thereof without the necessity Off removing the container fromthe desk. When the desk is not in use'the table section and its leaf arerfolded inward and the closing of the drawer ibrings the cover member ofy the cabinet into contact with these sections so that whenthe deskdrawer is locked any access tolthe desk by =unauthorized is preventedL a1 1 V The inwengtion therefore presents a simple, eflicient, andeconomically constructed calbinet desk in which the concealing membersfor-the secret container are so mounted as to be operable with theminimum of friction and provide a space while supported in extendedposition into which the secret containerjmay be withdrawn for accessthereto. mule the specific construction of the in vention has'jbeenherein S own and described, it is not confined-thereto as changes andalterations may be made without do parti-n from the spivitof theinvention as define? by the f-QllOWi Having thus describe my invention,what Ielaim as new and-desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedSates, is e-e i r 1.: A desk provided with n compartme t opening towardthe front, a pivoted table section mounted upon the desk at the front ofsaid compartment to normally conceal the some and adapted to swinginto'a position to permit access to 'the lcompartment, a cabinet portionabove said compartment, 1 cover for said portion disposed to retain-thetable section when the cabinet is closed, a drawer mounted in the deskbeneath said compartment, and an operating connection between saiddrawer and coveri 2. A desk including a platform, a public cabinetsupported above the same, a metallic claims. 1 m

Ill

compartment disposed between said cabinet 7 and platform, a secretcontainer disposed in aid compartmentiand adapted to be withdrawn towardthe front of the desk; :1 table section pivoted at the front of the deskand cabinet supported above the same, a metallic.

compartment disposed between said cabinet and platform,asecret'container disposed in said compartment and adapted to be withdrawn toward the front of the desk, a table section pivoted at the frontof the desk and supported to normally conceal said retainer, a stopprovided at the front portion of the under face of said platform, adrawer having its front panel extended to engage said stop and limit theinward movement of the drawer and a movable cover for the cabinetconnected to said drawer and adapted to enga e the table section whenclosed,

4. in a desk, a platform, a public cabinet section disposed above thesame, a secret container intermediate said cabinet and platform andwithdrawable toward the front of the desk, means at the forward portionof the desk for concealing said container and movable to permit accessthereto, a cover for the cabinet section cooperating with the concealingmeans, a drawer beneath said platform connected to said cover andprovided with an extended front panel, and means upon the platform toengage said panel for limiting the inward movement of said drawen 5. Ina desk,a body portion having a cabinet section, a secret containerdisposed in said section and adapted to open toward the front of thedesk, a movable table section having a folding member disposed toconceal said container and operable to permit access thereto, and acover for said cabinet mounted upon the body portion and adapted toengage the foldable member of the table section to prevent movementthereof when folded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEON KNASTER.

